In this blog post, we will answer the question: “How to wire a camper shell brake light?” We will talk about the required tools and parts that are needed to wire a camper shell brake light. We will also list out the various steps to wire a camper shell brake light and touch upon a few wiring tips and how to locate the brake wire.
How to wire a camper shell brake light?
In order to wire a camper shell brake light, you can follow the steps that have been described as follows.
- The first and most important thing is to run the positive and negative wires down the driver’s seat. Ensure that the wire is taken through the taillight area. You will need to solder the wire and fasten a connector.
- Locate the light green brake light that is situated at the rear bumper. Start the wire from the driver’s side taillight and take it to an electrical connector. Disconnect the three main harness plugs.
- Be sure to pull down the main harness plugs towards the inside of the trailer frame. You will notice that the green wire is about eight inches from the end of the harness.
- Separate the wire from the harness and make sure you have the right wire. Now you will need to strip the end of the wire by half an inch. You will need to make a two-conductor wiring harness that will go from the hole into the box.
- Be sure to make the wire long enough to reach the green wire. By applying heat shrink tubing to seal the splices, you will need to solder the wire. Now you will need to pull the wire from the hole through the back of the taillight.
- Make sure to put a wrap on the wire to prevent it from getting back into the box. Strip the wire that will attach to the green brake and twist the bare conductors together. Once you are done, solder the connection.
- You will need to locate a spot on the chassis. You can use the large bolt that usually holds the connection under the bumper. Remove an inch of the new connector ground wire. You will need to loosen the bolt with a 15 mm or 5/8 socket ratchet. Fix the ground wire under the trailer bracket and make sure to tighten it up.
To wire a camper shell brake light you will need to run a positive and negative wire from the front of the vehicle to the taillight area. Wiring the camper shell brake light is easy and can be done by one person. You will need a couple of tools before getting started and you will also need to follow certain instructions to make sure you get the wiring right.
Most of the vehicles that have a camper shell attached usually have the same wiring process. There might be a few vehicles that have a different wiring process depending on the type of truck or camper shell that is attached. Below is the list of tools that you will need to wire a camper shell brake light.
Keep in mind that most of the latest vehicles have a two-light taillight system. The good news is that you can easily add a third brake light for the camper shell by taking the connections from these two taillights. The process is simple and you will need a circuit to turn on the third brake light on your camper shell. The most important thing is that the brake light flashes when the brakes are applied.
Tools needed to wire a camper shell brake light
When you are wiring a camper shell brake light, you will need to first ensure that you have the following tools at hand.
- Wire stripper
- Side cutters.
- Scissors.
- Pliers.
- Voltage meter or multimeter.
- Electric solder.
- 8 mm socket and ratchet.
- 15 mm socket and ratchet.
- Gloves.
- Safety glasses.
Those are the basic tools that most people already have. Be sure to get the right socket and ratchet since it is important to have the right size. Once you have these tools you are ready to go ahead with the process. On the other hand, you will need a couple of parts that are required to wire the camper shell brake light. The parts listed below are what you will need.
Parts needed to wire a camper shell brake light
In addition to electrical tools, you will also need certain spare parts with you in order to wire a camper shell brake light. These spare parts are:
- The camper shell with a third brake light installed.
- Small diameter wire loom.
- ¼ inch diameter heat-shrink tubing.
- A pair of male and female wire connectors.
- Two or three plastic tie-wraps or zap straps.
Once you have these products purchased and the tool, you are all set to get started with the wiring. These products are not too expensive and they can be bought for $100. The brake light is going to be the most expensive item on the list and that can vary according to the type of light you have purchased. You should be able to get a brake light for an approximate price of $50.
Understanding the wires and the signals
Unless you are a professional electrician, it can be difficult to understand the different wires and signals while wiring your camper shell brake light. Some pointers to help you out in terms of wires and signals are listed below.
- There are different wires located at the rear for brake lights, do not get confused when you see a couple of wires.
- The light green wire is located on the right and is used for turn signal and brake light functions.
- The brown wire is used to carry out the running light functions. The turn and stop signals function on the same circuit.
- Adding a third brake light is simple as you will be adding only a single function.
- You will be using a 2-wire and 3-wire converter to get the process done.
- In some vehicles, the blue wire that carries the third brake signal is located in the harness. All you need to do is get the right wires in the right place.
How to locate the brake wire?
Usually, the yellow wire is the left turn/brake and the green wire is the right turn/brake. However, wire colors can vary based on the model and the truck. Locating the brake wire is important and this can be found outside near the brake drum or caliper. The drum will have an inside connection and you might need to remove the drum to locate the wire.
The brake light switch is small and is located near the brake pedal. This switch activates the brake lights for the vehicle. This switch can also be found just about the brake pedal. Make sure to remember these things while you get to work. Once you understand how these things work, you will be able to wire a camper shell brake light with ease.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have answered the question: “How to wire a camper shell brake light?” We have talked about the required tools and parts that are needed to wire a camper shell brake light. We have also listed out the various steps to wire a camper shell brake light and touched upon a few wiring tips and how to locate the brake wire.
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